St George's, University of London is committed to sexual orientation equality. Under the Equality Act 2010 a higher education institution should not discriminate against a student at their institution in the provision of education, or access to any benefit, facility or service, by excluding them or by subjecting them to any other detriment because of their sexual orientation.

Sexual orientation discrimination law covers almost all workers (women and men) and all types of organisations in the UK. It covers recruitment, employment terms and conditions, pay and benefits, training, promotion and transfer opportunities, redundancy and dismissal.

In this context sexual orientation is used to describe a combination of emotional, romantic, sexual or affectionate attraction towards another person, including:

Bisexual people (men or women attracted to both sexes)

Gay men (men attracted to men)

Heterosexual people (men or women attracted to the opposite sexes)

Lesbian women (women attracted to women)

The LGBT staff network group

We have a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) staff network group to input into sexual orientation equality at the institution. Any staff member is welcome to join this group, regardless of their sexual orientation, as long as they are supportive of LGBT equality. Currently of the 58% of our staff who choose to provide information on sexual orientation in confidence, 1% identify as gay, 1% as lesbian and 1% as bisexual.

Andy Kent, Professor of Undergraduate Education, is St George's senior lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) team leadership champion. He's a member of both the senior management team and the Council.

Being gay can be isolating. The LGBT staff network is able to offer confidential support. For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Gay by Degree - support of LGBT students

The Stonewall University Guide rates universities according to their support for LGBT students. We meet nine out of ten of Stonewall’s Gay by Degree criteria, showing that St George’s:

has a policy that protects LGBT students from bullying, provides compulsory staff training on LGBT issues

has a student society for LGBT students, offers information, events and explicit welfare support for LGBT students

engages in consultation with LGBT students

has a LGBT staff network and is a Stonewall Diversity Champion

monitors both staff and student’s sexual orientation to help ensure we tailor all our services appropriately to LGBT people and can monitor satisfaction levels